EUGENE, Ore. – Christina Hillman stepped up in Saturday’s shot put final of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field, finishing fourth with a best throw of 56-6 6 ¾. Her performance propelled the Cyclones to a 13th-place national team finish. Iowa State had finished 11th in 2012 NCAA cross country and ninth at the 2013 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.

“To place among the top 13 programs in all three seasons is really proof of excellent team achievement,” Iowa State head coach Corey Ihmels said. “Christina did a great job for us today. She was second until the last round of throws.”

Hillman, who was second at the NCAA indoor meet in the shot put, came in as the sixth-best overall competitor in the field based on her career outdoor best of 57-1 at the Mt. Sac Relays in April.

Even as the fourth-place finisher Hillman wasn’t fully satisfied. She was the top non-senior finisher in the field. She will compete in the U.S. national meet two weeks from now in Des Moines.

“The whole experience this season has been great, although I’m a little disappointed in the outdoor season. But after getting 11th (at the NCAA West Regional) this was a reminder to myself that I belong.”